Introduction
The Irish grain yield can regularly be stored for up to a year after harvest before processing. During this period the grain can deteriorate in the store due to natural decay and insect infestations. This deterioration is hastened by the initial temperature being too high. Once infestation starts, the temperature continues to rise ever more quickly. The higher the temperature rises, the more the insect infestation and grain deterioration is magnified and can result in the entire crop being lost.
Until now, continuous temperature measurement has been a time-consuming chore which requires regular checks to ensure accurate readings. Using Sigfox devices for temperature monitoring reduces cost of deployment, cuts the farmer’s time spent overseeing the sensors, and ensures clear information is readily available in a straight-forward graphical display.
Fluctuating grain silo temperatures is a common problem for farmers. Monahan farms traditionally dealt with this by monitoring the grain temperature from the beginning of the storage period and blowing cool air through the grain when the temperature started to rise. A rise in temperature indicates a developing insect problem. If discovered in time, blowing cool air through the grain can solve the problem before it becomes established. This case outlines how VT/Sigfox devices have helped to achieve this.